Steering Alignment went weird

[konaboy]

So my upper passenger ball joint is pretty well shot, it's got more moans and groans than a haunted house. Have the next couple days off and the wife's uncle and I are going to tackle replacing the uppers. Now I noticed tonight while driving my alignment has gone a little. Just had an alignment done March 2 when I got 4 new tires. The steering wheel is now turned to the right some in order to go straight, if I set it straight I drift left pretty quickly. Is there something else I need to be looking for once I get under it on friday morning or is this just another symptom of a ball joint dying?

Kona

 

[Doug]

More than likely related to your ball joints. I'm suprised they aligned your truck with bad ball joints most places won't do it because if the ball joints are bad you can align it properly. Sounds like a shady shop..

 

[konaboy]

Actually a very reputable shop, there were no symptoms in march that would have indicated a ball joint going bad that I know of. No squeaks,creaks, moans or pops. The squeaks just started about a month ago and of course have gotten worse. But in the last day it's gone from the occasional squeak/creak to absolutely horrible sounds all the time which is why I'm replacing them on Friday a.m. I think I have something else going on as well with either a cv joint or hub bearing but I'll tackle one project at a time(getting a grinding feeling when rolling isn't as noticeable turning just when going straight. All new brake system,rotors/calipers and pads up front,tires and shocks so they've been eliminated from the mix.)

Also some issue with plugs or timing to deal with that's causing a vibration/miss feeling that's rattling the exhaust at the tailpipe pretty goot but that's a project for another day.Just seems like it's all hitting at once AAAGGGHHHHH

Kona

 

[MONMIX]

If they were a good alignment shop your stering wheel would be straight when you go straight

 

[konaboy]

It was straight, when the wheel was straight the car went straight, everything was great until the last few days when the joints really started acting up which is why I was asking if something else might be worth taking a look at when we get it up. Granted, maybe something slipped on the alignment end of things, I don't know yet but I honestly don't believe this was carelessness or shoddy work on the part of the shop. If I thought it was I'd be on the phone having them set up a time to fix it. I actually had a problem with my local Ford service dept. I had the lower joints replaced under warranty and they didn't do the alignment properly, as soon as I got in the car and started driving off the lot I noticed the problem, the steering wheel was turned 1/4 turn right from center to go straight. I turned around and went in to see the service manager. Consequently I don't deal with them anymore. My thought was if they can't get an alignment done right I don't want them touching my car, I can't trust what they are telling me or that the repair was done properly.

Kona

 

[konaboy]

Well it's fixed

Well just got home from working on the x and the passenger side upper ball joint was shot. I was able to get it off fairly easy. It also fixed the steering wheel problem, now with the wheel straight the car goes straight. Not as bad a fix as I thought it'd be, things went way to smooth which at one point scared me, very few projects I get into go that easy.

Kona